Eat Shop chef Jeff Anderson is focusing on Neapolitan-style pizzas (a measure of Larson’s infatuation level, pizza-wise, is the wood-burning oven he installed in his home a decade ago), a half-dozen detail-obsessed burgers (paired with shakes, of course) and a handful of small plates (sourdough pretzels, swordfish tacos) to pair with the bar’s craft beer list. Lunch and dinner are served daily.

Bread & Pickle (4135 W. Lake Harriet Pkwy., Mpls., www.breadandpickle.com) on Lake Harriet is opening May 8. Finally, Sandcastle (4955 W. Lake Nokomis Pkwy., Mpls., www. sandcastlempls.com) on Lake Nokomis is set to open May 10, following the completion of its new patio.

Dine out, do good

Where will you be dining on Thursday?

Choose one of 250-plus restaurants in the Twin Cities, Rochester, Duluth or Mankato, and your purchase will support Dining Out for Life, a coast-to-coast fundraising event that benefits HIV/AIDS nonprofits in more than 40 cities.

In Minnesota, the beneficiary is the Aliveness Project, a Minneapolis community center that provides on-site meals, food shelf options and other services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

This year, the 29-year-old center estimates it will provide assistance to 1,700 adults and children.

Here’s how the event works: Enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner (or some combination thereof) and anywhere from 20 percent up to 100 percent of your tab will be donated by the restaurant.

Last year’s event raised more than $255,000 and drew in 35,000 diners at more than 170 restaurants. This year’s goal is $270,000 and 40,000 diners.

It’s a testament to the dining industry’s generosity that so many restaurants are involved. For a complete list of participating restaurants, go to www.diningoutforlife.com/minneapolis/restaurants.